Despite the ongoing setbacks this production has been facing, the producers and stars have been soldiering on, determined to make a great movie. And now, despite having a potential cast member in the form of Nicolas Cage dropping out of the film, they have a new reason to celebrate.

After surprising everyone this year with his role in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, Christophe Waltz, AKA Hans Landa, has been cast as the villain Chudnofsky, a gangster who makes things troublesome for our hero. This is definitely good news to all the fans who were worried this film was in trouble. Waltz completely stole the show in his villainous “Jew Hunter” role and is basically a lock for a Best Supporting Actor Nomination. I believe this will make the film even more enjoyable than what it would have been before.

The Green Hornet is set for a December 17, 2010 release and also stars Seth Rogen, Cameron Diaz, Jay Chou, Edward James Olmos, and Tom Wilkinson, and is being directed by Michael Gondry.